Occurrence and Population Dynamics of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in the Indian Orchards of Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn), aonla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) and Banana (Musa paradisiaca L.)

Soil samples were collected from the rhizospheres of litchi, aonla and banana orchards to evaluate the population dynamics of VA mycorrhizae. Maximum colonization and spore population of VAM fungi were observed in litchi and aonla orchards planted in Basti and Pratapgarh. However, moderate colonization and spore population were also recorded in Faizabad and Sultanpur districts. Almost same pattern of population dynamics of VAM fungi was also observed in banana orchards of Faizabad and Sultanpur Districts. These VAM fungi were identified as species of Glomus, Endogone, Gigaspora, Rhizophagus and Acaulospora and population dynamics of VAM fungi was in order of Glomus > Gigaspora >Rhizophagus > Acaulospora > Endogone. Physico – chemicals properties of the soil especially pH, organic carbon, exchangeable sodium and calcium affected the population dynamics and colonization of VA mycorrhizae in the orchards.